Video games often take you into another world. A fantasy land or a dystopian future where you need to fight for survival against monsters or other players. “The Tearoom” however, paints a more familiar scene. Created by indie game maker Robert Yang, it recreates 1960s gay cruising in a public washroom. Plus, while amusing conceptually, it also addresses the real risks faced by men at the time (and still today).
The game is named after a piece of art that was made of real footage from cameras that police set up in Ohio to record men having sex in public bathrooms. The originals of these tapes also included homophobic slurs from police officers. The men in the footage were later arrested.
The game recreates the cruising risks that come from police targeting gay men. The objective is to suck 8 different kinds of dicks – replaced by guns in the game in order to keep it from being banned from certain indie game distribution networks – without getting caught by the dicks. Think internet sensation “Slenderman,” only it all takes place inside of that creepy bathroom, you’re trying to suck some cock instead of collect paper, and the demon chasing you is a group of people appointed to protect you.
This isn’t Yang’s first gay-themed game. Previous games include Cobra Club, which lets you take virtual dick pics and Hurt Me Plenty, which dives into the world of BDSM.
You can download The Tearoom for free or check out the gameplay video down below.
Okay. So, in order to avoid being banned by certain game distributors, the game replaces the dicks with guns.
Because the idea of “sucking a gun” (presumably until it “goes off”) is safer or more acceptable? Did whoever make this decision NOT think of “suicide” when making that “substitution?” Pixilation would be a hell of a lot better if it would get around the “censors.” If the game features the guns instead of dicks IN the actual downloaded playable game, this game’s a waste of everyone’s time. If the guns only show up in a “demo” mode (or in screen shots/captures), that’s one thing; but this sounds like the guns are there INSTEAD of dicks.
Not for me!!!!
Dafuq’s this shit?
It would make more sense to replace the dicks with popsicles or lollipops, the way that little tongue was flicking away. And I agree with Joey — I think someone has to think long and hard about the symbolism of using a gun to take the place of a dick. On the other hand, does this mean the NRA will now support gay sex?